What's eating my caladium moonlight?

Caladium 'Moonlight' has soft, cream-to-white leaves that are highly attractive to thrips, which scar the pale tissue badly. Spider mites thrive if humidity drops indoors. When used as a summer patio or garden plant, aphids and caterpillars can damage the thin, arrow-shaped foliage. Maintain high humidity indoors to reduce mite risk significantly.

Bronze or silver streaks on the pale leaf surface; dark frass spots visible on close inspection; edges distort and brown. Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray weekly for 3–4 weeks, remove damaged leaves, and hang sticky traps to track adults.

Pale speckling and webbing on leaf undersides; the cream leaves dull quickly and margins may crisp in dry air. Shower the plant, keep humidity above 55%, and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap on a 5–7 day cycle.

Soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides, especially when grown outdoors; leaves curl and become sticky. Remove with a strong water spray and apply insecticidal soap. Monitor frequently during warm outdoor months.

White waxy colonies at petiole bases and where leaves emerge from the tuber; plant weakens and growth slows. Treat with isopropyl alcohol swabs then neem oil spray. Let the topsoil dry slightly between waterings to discourage establishment.